The package of €1.65 million in addition to pieces of land in exchange for a shared ownership in a property in Old Mint Street Valletta raised eyebrows as tax-payers coughed hard earned money.   The silent majority opinion has reached unprecedented levels of scorn and concern as more details of this deal are revealed. 

Government is trying to stay an arms-length away from this political brouhaha by commissioning an inquiry by the Internal Audit and Investigations Department which falls under the remit of the Office of the Prime Minister and another by the National Audit Office which reports to the House of Representatives called by the Nationalist Party.  Although, it is imperative that for the sake of transparency, accountability and financial accountability, that thorough investigations are kick-started, these investigations should not bar Government from calling the police to investigate this alleged case of wheeling and dealing.   Only the police have the authority to press charges in the event they find corruption in the deal.

The person or persons,  from top to bottom,  in the hierarchy of the public sector should be held accountable  for this allegedly  fraudulent  deal.  The Prime Minister,  Dr Joseph Muscat and Parliamentary Secretary,  Dr Michael Falzon should also carry their share of  responsibility.  After all, the Lands Department falls under the Prime Minister's portfolio while Dr Falzon, Parliamentary Secretary, signed the deal.  In this alleged illegal expropriation deal the file movements from one office, department to another, should throw enough light on the entire deal.  A deal of such value should have “minutes” in the file before approval was granted.  

Under constant and mounting pressures, last Sunday, Prime Minister,  Joseph Muscat pledged that he will seek to undo what has been done by all means necessary,  if it is concluded that there have been any  shady dealings in the case.  Reversing and undoing the allegedly fraudulent deal is not enough.  Corruption should not be treated lightly on the contrary corruption should be severely addressed and stamped out. 

Political responsibility should be shouldered while the civil servant, the group of civil servants and the appointed experts involved in this allegedly fraudulent deal should also be held accountable.  Collusion between ministers and senior public service officers is a fine recipe for disaster.  

This alleged fraudulent deal demonstrates the importance of the demarcation lines between the political will and the administrative arm controlled by the civil service.  If these regulations are not observed government may for the most obvious reasons entertain or appease the selected few from the national coffers.   Flouting public administration regulations would be at the peril of society.  

Here, I have to stress this point.  In most cases administrative regulations in the public sector are referred to as unnecessary bureaucracy.   While all public sector inefficiencies and inflexibilities should be addressed to ensure that law-abiding entrepreneurs and other customers are served efficiently, in real time a level of bureaucracy should remain to ensure that the checks and balances are in place.       

Back to money squandering the Australia hall deal between the PL and Government left nothing but bad taste. This was immediately followed by another sour deal wherein €4.2 million from the national coffers were paid to acquire Café Premier, when dust was about the settle, out of the blues the Mint Street expropriation deal surfaced.  Concurrently, it was revealed that Electrogas, the Company entrusted to build the new power station received €88 million guarantee from the national coffers.  

This led to the Chamber of Commerce to call on the competent authorities to make a detailed presentation about the relevant facts surrounding this guarantee with the aim to stop the unnecessary doubts yet understandable within the business community and all law-abiding citizens.

The squandering of public funds should be curbed and every effort should be made to stamp abuse and alleged claims of corruption.  Taxpayers must be assured that their hard earned money is being used wisely and productively by government.   If this is not expeditiously and efficiently addressed this would tantamount to gross social injustice and discourage hard-working honest people to contribute their fair share towards the national coffers.

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